Another CoalVac

 
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Lightning
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Posts: 14658
Joined: Wed. Nov. 16, 2011 9:51 am
Location: Olean, NY
Stoker Coal Boiler: Modified AA 130
Coal Size/Type: Pea Size - Anthracite

Post by Lightning » Fri. Jan. 26, 2018 7:13 pm

Cool, I did a similar thing for my ash tub since I dump my ash pan in the basement. The shop vac sits outside. It pulls air thru the water trap in the bucket which pulls air thru the ash tub. When I dump the ash pan into the ash tub I would normally have a plume of dust, but now the dust is "air locked" and stays in the ash tub. The water trap is an extra measure so that the shop vac can't accidently pull in a hot ember.

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Qtown1835
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Posts: 705
Joined: Sat. Nov. 08, 2014 11:47 am
Location: Quakertown, PA
Stoker Coal Boiler: Keystoker '81 KA4 (online 1/16/17)
Coal Size/Type: WAS Lehigh Rice (TBD)
Other Heating: EFM SPK600

Post by Qtown1835 » Fri. Jan. 26, 2018 9:15 pm

Nice. Cool idea

 
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nepacoal
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Posts: 1696
Joined: Wed. Nov. 21, 2012 7:49 am
Location: Coal Country
Stoker Coal Boiler: Keystoker KAA-4 / "Kelly" and an EFM 520 at my in-laws
Hand Fed Coal Boiler: Harman SF-260 - retired
Coal Size/Type: Buck

Post by nepacoal » Mon. Jul. 09, 2018 9:49 am

A quick update...
We used just under 6 tons of coal this year and since we use a two stage method we vacuumed up 12 tons:

1. No issues, worked flawlessly and reduced dust by probably 99%.
2. Used 4 vacuum bags and just put a new filter on for next heating season (probably could have cleaned it, but for $10, New sounded better)
3. Had about 25 lbs of fines in the dust deputy
4. With it working so well, no changes are planned at this time


 
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swyman
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Posts: 2355
Joined: Mon. Apr. 13, 2015 9:50 pm
Location: Blissfield, MI
Stoker Coal Boiler: Axeman-Anderson 260M Leisure Line AA-220 Boiler (FOR SALE)
Coal Size/Type: Lehigh Pea

Post by swyman » Sun. Sep. 16, 2018 9:46 am

Thanks for sending me a link to this thread! Love the setup and will hopefully be doing something similar. Can't wait to start burning coal but A/C is still on!!!!

 
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nepacoal
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Posts: 1696
Joined: Wed. Nov. 21, 2012 7:49 am
Location: Coal Country
Stoker Coal Boiler: Keystoker KAA-4 / "Kelly" and an EFM 520 at my in-laws
Hand Fed Coal Boiler: Harman SF-260 - retired
Coal Size/Type: Buck

Post by nepacoal » Mon. Oct. 01, 2018 12:26 pm

Added a remote switch to the vacuum. Works great allowing me to turn the vacuum on an off from the coal bin. No more running over to turn it off once the barrel is full. It was about $16 on Amazon.

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nepacoal
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Posts: 1696
Joined: Wed. Nov. 21, 2012 7:49 am
Location: Coal Country
Stoker Coal Boiler: Keystoker KAA-4 / "Kelly" and an EFM 520 at my in-laws
Hand Fed Coal Boiler: Harman SF-260 - retired
Coal Size/Type: Buck

Post by nepacoal » Mon. Dec. 24, 2018 7:17 am

Another Quick Update...

No issues after switching to all buck this year. Just loaded two 55 gal drums (close to 800 lbs) in 28 minutes (28 min and 14 sec to be exact...). No dust issues in the basement at all.

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titleist1
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Post by titleist1 » Mon. Dec. 24, 2018 9:24 am

Thanks for the update....Nice set up and glad to hear its working so well.

I like those remote control outlet things. I have a couple scattered about the front & back of the house to control the outside Christmas lights. I just stand in the kitchen and hit the buttons to turn them on and off rather than making the walk-about (especially in the rain) or using timers! :yes:

 
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nepacoal
Member
Posts: 1696
Joined: Wed. Nov. 21, 2012 7:49 am
Location: Coal Country
Stoker Coal Boiler: Keystoker KAA-4 / "Kelly" and an EFM 520 at my in-laws
Hand Fed Coal Boiler: Harman SF-260 - retired
Coal Size/Type: Buck

Post by nepacoal » Fri. Jul. 05, 2019 8:45 am

Another 6 tons through the CoalVac. No issues, no dust. With it being a two stage system, 12 tons were moved. Got 4 or 5 gallons of fines out of the dust deputy. Still working great using buck.

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nepacoal
Member
Posts: 1696
Joined: Wed. Nov. 21, 2012 7:49 am
Location: Coal Country
Stoker Coal Boiler: Keystoker KAA-4 / "Kelly" and an EFM 520 at my in-laws
Hand Fed Coal Boiler: Harman SF-260 - retired
Coal Size/Type: Buck

Post by nepacoal » Mon. Jul. 04, 2022 4:52 pm

I upgraded my coalvac...
It was still working great but I couldn't resist trying out the new and improved Dust Deputy from Oneida... They claim twice the airflow and after using it, I'd have to agree! With the original DD, it would take between 14.5 to 17 minutes to load a 55 gal barrel, depending on how clean the vac's filter and bag were. I've been using the new DD 2.5 since the beginning of April and just did my first timed test run. It only took 7 minutes and 2 seconds. And that was with a very dirty filter and relatively new bag.

If you're building a new coalvac or are using the original Dust Deputy, I'd definitely recommend you check out the DD 2.5. It is an amazing upgrade.

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User avatar
nepacoal
Member
Posts: 1696
Joined: Wed. Nov. 21, 2012 7:49 am
Location: Coal Country
Stoker Coal Boiler: Keystoker KAA-4 / "Kelly" and an EFM 520 at my in-laws
Hand Fed Coal Boiler: Harman SF-260 - retired
Coal Size/Type: Buck

Post by nepacoal » Sun. Oct. 15, 2023 5:03 pm

I noticed a drop off in performance of my coal vac a few weeks ago and it took me a while to figure it out... It was still working, but at a much slower rate. At first I thought the long sweep 90° going into feed box wore out since the long sweep 90° into the 55 gal drum wore out at the end of last year. But it was still good. I couldn't hear any leaks and all the hose connections were fine. A new filter and bag didn't make a difference. With it running I inspected the feed hose carefully and felt some air flow in the middle. A slight bend revealed about a 12" section that had worn through from the inside. It lasted six years and with a two stage system about 75 tons passed through it (37+ tons into the barrels and the same 37+ tons into the feed box). I replaced it today so hopefully I'll get another 6 years out of this new hose!

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